Folding step-ladder.



L. 0. GARRAWAY. FOLDING STEP LADDER. ArlLloATIoN FILED SEPT. z2, 1911.

1,033,391 Patented July 23, 1912.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEE O. GARRAWAY, F MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE. v

FOLDING STEP-LADDER.

To all whom it may'concem:

Be it known that I, LEE O. GARRAWAY, citizen of the United States, residing at Memphis, in the county of Shelby and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Step-Ladders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in folding step ladders, and has for one of its objects to improve the construction and increase the eiiiciency and utility of devices of this character.

Another object of the invent-ion is to provide a device of this character formed of a combination of wood and metal, the wood parts being employed where the parts require to be reinforced and whereby the stidness and rigidity of the ladder is increased.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character having jointed steps foldable together and connecting means between the steps whereby the folding movement of one of the steps is communicated to all of the steps.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereafter shown and described, and then specifically pointed out in the claims, and in the drawings thus employed: Figure 1 is a perspective view from the rear of the improved folding ladder with a part broken away to illustrate the construction; Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 illustrating the construction of the steps and the manner of folding them with relation to the supporting side members; Fig. 3 is a sect-ion on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a side view on a reduced scale, showing the improved ladder folded.

Corresponding and like lparts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The improved device comprises two sides spaced apart a distance equal to the length of the treads or steps of the ladder, and as the sides are precisely alike, the description of one will suflice for both. Each side comprises spaced vertical members -11 preferably of wood of sullicient size to withstand the strains to which they will be subjected. At their lower ends the sides 10-11 are connected by a chock piece 12 and are likewise connected at the upper ends by a strap 13,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led September 22, 1911.

Patented July 23, 1912.

Serial No. 650,782.

the latter bent at the ends around the sides 10-11 and is secured thereto by screws or other fastening devices. Located at spaced intervals longitudinally of the side members 10-11 are other straps 14, the spaced straps corresponding in distance apart with the treads or steps of the ladder or with the intermediate straps corresponding in number with the steps of the ladder. The members 10-11 may be of any required length so that any required number of the steps may be employed, but for the purpose of illustration a ladder having two of the steps is shown. The sides 10-11 are connected at points opposite thevstraps 14 with supporting rods 15.

Each of the steps is preferably formed with a base 16 and with slotted ears 17 through which the rods 15 pass, the bases of the steps being extended to pass beneath the straps 14 when the steps are in horizontal position as shown. Two of the bases 16 are employed for each step and hingedly united at their confronting ends or centrally of the steps. Each of the step bases 16 is also provided with a preferably curved upper portion 19 spaced from the base and with a wood or similar filler 20 between the base and the upper portion' 19. The upper surface of the portion 19 of each step is preferably curved and inclined toward one side of the ladder as shown so that when the ladder is set in an inclined position against a building the upper surfaces of the steps will be substantially level. The upwardly extending wooden filler members 20 together with the elevated port-ion 19 of the steps materially increase the rigidity and strength of the steps as the depressing strains applied to vthe steps will be counteracted by the contact between the confronting ends of the filler members and the upper portions 19. By this simple arrangement it will be obvious that when the steps are disposed in longitudinal alinementor in horizontal position, the projecting portions of the bases eX- tend beneath the straps 14, while the rods 15 co-act with the straps and the projecting portions of the bases of the steps to prevent deflection of the latter. The pintles of the hinges 18 are extended rearwardly and connected by a coupling bar 21 so that when one pair of the steps is elevated the remaining steps will be simultaneously elevated therewith and buckled into folding position as hereafter explained. Pivoted at 22 to the sides 11 of the ladder, preferably through the upper straps 13, are L-shaped holding bars 24-25, the bars designed to engage over the outer corners of the members 11.

Pivoted at 26-27 respectively to the bars near their lower ends are brace bars 28-29, the bars being furthermore pivoted together intermediate their ends as shown at 30. The bars2S-29 are slotted as shown at :B1-32, at their upper portions and engage over threaded bolts 33-34, the bolts being provided respectively with thumb nuts 35- 36. By this arrangement when the ladder is disposed in closed position the bars 24-25 engage over the corners of the side members 11 with the pins 83-34 located at the lower ends of the slots 31h32 in which position they may be clamped by actuating the thumb nuts 35H36. By this means the ladder is held firmly in closed position with the sides in contact face to face. Then when the ladder is extended and the jointed steps disposed in longitudinal alinement, the bars 24-25 will still engage over the corners of the members 11, but with the clamp bolts 33-34 at t-he opposite ends of the slots 31-32, in which position they may be readily clamped by actuating the thumb nuts. Thus the ladder may be firmly supported either in open or closed position as `may be required.

An upper step represented conventionally at 37, is provided and hingedly united'at 38 at one -end to one ofthe sides and with adepending lip 39 having a slot v40 at the other end for bearing over the outer face of one of the upper ystraps 13, with 'the slot 40 engaging over a threaded stud 41, the stud having a thumb nut 42 so that the step 37 may be clamped to the ladder sides. At its rear `edge the step 3T is upturned as shown at 43, and provided with a slot 44 so located that when the step 37 is disposed in folded position the slot 44 will fit over the threaded stud 34 `in position to be clamped to the folded step ladder structure. By this means all the parts are firmly clamped together when in folded position, and readily dis tended when a yladder is required.

The improved device is simple in construction, can be inexpensively manufactured and requires no expensive castings or forgings as all the metal parts are of sheet or plate metal yand can be `pressed or stamped into the required shapes, and the Wooden portions are not formed with irregularities or other expensive shapes, `but are symmetrical from end to end and can be readily formed by machinery and of any required size or capacity and with any required number of steps.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. Ina step ladder, sides spaced apart and each formed of a pair of longitudinal members and a plurality of transverse connecting straps, the straps corresponding in distance apart with the steps of the ladder, a supporting rod connected through each pair of longitudinal members opposite each of the straps, a plurality of steps each formed in two sections hingedly united at their confronting ends and projecting at their outer ends beneath said transverse straps, and lugs carried by said step sections and having vertical slots `through which said rods pass,

whereby the steps are caused Ato remain level` when the sides are set at an incline.

2. In a step ladder, sides spaced apartvafrrd each formed -of a pair of longitudinal"inembers and a plurality of transverse connecting straps, said straps being extended at the ends around the outer faces of the horizontal members and corresponding in distance apart with the steps of the ladder, a supporting rod connected through eachpair of longitudinal members and through the extended ends of the straps, a plurality of steps each for-med in two sections hingedly united at their `confronting; ends and projectf ing at their outer ends beneath said transverse straps, and lugs carried by said step sections vand provided with vertical rslots through which said rods pass.

3. In astep ladder, sides spa-'ced apart and each formed with a pair of longitudinal members, a supporting rod connected through each pair of said longitudinal members, a plurality of steps eachformed of two base sections hingedly united at their confronting ends and hingedly supported at their outer ends from said rods, a `cover for `each step `base and spaced above the `same and bearing against eachother `end `to end when the step bases are disposed in longitudinal alinement, and filler members between said covers and bases.

4. In a step ladder, sides spaced apart, a plurality of steps each comprising `itwo base sections hingedly Iunited `at their outer ends relative to the sides, hinge members carried by said step sect-ions at their inner ends, a pintle rod extending through said hinge members andprojecting at the rear vend, 4and a coupling member pivoted to the projecting portion of the pintle rods, whereby the step bases are simultaneously broken upwardly when the ladder 'is folded.

In testimony whereof I aHiX my signature in `presence yof two witnesses.

LEE O. GARRAlVl-XY. [n sj. lVitnesses:

WILL. L. FEREDAY, CHARLES A. MORGEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each. by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

GLAS 0 

